Related Topics

The Minnesota Chlamydia Partnership (MCP)

Chlamydia is an epidemic in Minnesota, threatening the health and well-being of thousands of adolescents and young adults in our state. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recognizes the widespread and complex nature of this serious infection; one that is beyond its scope and resources. To formulate and carry out a broad-based, multifaceted approach, MDH participates as an active member in a community based organization, the Minnesota Chlamydia Partnership (MCP). Members of the MCP are leaders in public health, health care, community organizations, and youth organizations. Since its inception in 2010, the MCP has been successful in developing a website and the “Minnesota Chlamydia Strategy: Action Plan to Reduce and Prevent Chlamydia”, as well as “A Special Report: Chlamydia Prevention”, the shortened version of the Strategy. Using this document, the MCP works with community groups, clinics, schools, and health plans to enhance public and professional awareness of chlamydia, increase screening and treatment rates in clinical settings, support efforts to make screening more accessible and affordable, reduce health inequities in populations of color and in LGBTQ communities, and improve the sexual health of all young people in Minnesota .

Identified ways that organizations and individuals can become proactive in addressing it.

There will be opportunities for participants to join workgroups that will meet over the four months following the Summit to develop a statewide action plan to reduce chlamydia infection rates.

The goal is to have a broad representation of people involved including:

Adolescents and young adults ages 15-25 years old

Healthcare providers and laboratory representatives

Legislators and other policy makers

Health Insurers

Faith community members

Youth-serving community-based organizations

Representatives from advertising and social marketing

Educators (school board members, administrators, teachers)

Media representatives (reporters, health columnists, editors)

Parents

Businesses serving youth

Mental health professionals

Chemical health professionals

Representatives from youth and young adult correctional facilities

Representatives from park and recreation programs for youth

State agencies serving youth and young adults

Local community leaders

Culturally specific programs serving people of color

Organizations serving GLBT communities

What is the problem?

In Minnesota the cases of chlamydia have reached epidemic proportions. In 2008, 14,350 new chlamydia cases were reported in the state. From an all-time low of 115 cases per 100,000 in 1996, the incidence of chlamydia has more than doubled to 292 per 100,000 in 2008. Over time, increases have been seen across all gender, age, race and geographical groups. The epidemic of chlamydia in Minnesota has the greatest impact on young people ages 15-25 years.

Why should you care?

Chlamydia is a serious infection that, if untreated, can be spread to sexual partners and lead to serious complications such as ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility in men and women. Having chlamydia makes it easier to transmit or acquire HIV and other STDs during sex. During pregnancy chlamydia infection can be passed to newborns during childbirth and cause serious eye infection or pneumonia and also lead to premature delivery and low birth weight babies.

Get Involved: Next Steps

The next main task of the MCP is to develop a statewide strategy that will serve as a guide for the next three years for all community partners to impact the rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in Minnesota. Following the Summit, the MCP Steering Committee reorganized the Summit’s original 10 strategic interest arenas into 5 strategy work groups:

Educate teachers, parents and teens

Educate providers

Build awareness of chlamydia and gonorrhea

Affordable testing and treatment

Access to testing and treatment

The work groups will have at least 10 people each who signed-up to serve after the Summit. The strategy work groups will be co-facilitated by MDH staff and community partners and will meet at least 3 times each from September 2010 until spring of 2011. The resulting strategies will include a list of “actionable items” that will be the basis for the work by community partners for the first 18 months of the statewide strategy. The MCP Steering Committee will consolidate the work group strategies and will present the final statewide strategy in spring of 2011.

Pose questions about the Minnesota Chlamydia Partnership (MCP) and how you can be involved or about chlamydia or gonorrhea infections, treatment and prevention.

If you were unable to attend the Summit on August 3, 2010 you can still be involved in participating/or contributing to the activities of the Minnesota Chlamydia Partnership. To see possible areas for action, see Strategic Interest and Action Arenas.

Mailing List

If you would like to join our mailing list and receive updates about the MCP and the upcoming statewide strategy to address chlamydia, please join our mailing list.

Content Notice: This site contains HIV or STD
prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all audiences. Since HIV and
other STDs are spread primarily through sexual practices or by sharing needles,
prevention messages and programs may address these topics. If you are not seeking
such information or may be offended by such materials, please exit this web site.